Dear IRS

I really don't appreciate your mistakes. To think you have $365 back and then have it taken away all in one day is truly cruel. Thanks a million!

Sincerely, Me

I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore....

This past weekend I had the privilege of visiting my sister, Emily, in Kansas. Not only was Emily there, but almost my entire family plus my brand new nephew. It was a lot of fun and provided a much needed getaway for myself. We went to some fun places to eat, shopping, Independence, Liberty Jail, and Austin's baby blessing. Not only that, but we spent some nice family time together playing games, watching movies, playing sports outside (the weather was gorgeous, by the way), and eating good food. Anyway, here are a few pictures from the trip:

The Sisters on Blessing Day
Sally on the way to the airport

Austin sleeping in the car

Liberty Jail

Me and a solemn-looking Al at Liberty Jail

The Community of Christ's Temple

Me and Austin in his blessing garb

The Sisters at the Barbeque

Ang, Me, and Al on our shopping trip

My first time meeting Austin!

Good Books

Ever since school let out in December, I have had a really hard time with life. In fact, I have been completely depressed. I know that this seems completely ridiculous, as I have never really enjoyed school and the stresses that come along with it. I mean, my fall semester could be characterized as absolute hell with working and going to school full time, as well as coming down with the flu and the swine flu within a few weeks of each other. Although I have my job to occupy most of my days, I have since felt very strongly a lack of purpose and self-worth.

Well, my wonderful husband Scott has been very supportive and concerned. We have had several talks about worthwhile things that I can do now to occupy my time while I wait for school to start in the fall and the dental hygiene program to begin. One of the things that I chose was to start this blog and the other was to renew my love for reading. Since February, I have read quite a few books and most of them have been good.

Last night, I finished my 13th book since starting at the end of January. "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak was amazing. For some reason, I have always been drawn to stories during World War II and the Holocaust. Yes, they are very depressing and that's probably one of the reasons why I like them. But I also like them because although there is great suffering, there always seems to be some great strength as well. "The Book Thief" was different in that it came from the other side of the fence--not from a Jew's perspective but from a German citizen's and a German town greatly affected by the war. It is ultimately about a girl with a love of books whose family secretly takes a Jew into their home. As I got to the end and subsequently began sobbing my eyes out, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude--not only for good books, but for the time I have been given to read them. I realized then that I have been very ungrateful and impatient at this stage I am at right now. I have been mopey and depressed and selfish, pitying myself at every turn for not having money and not being able to move forward with my degree and even a family. So now as I realize that this kind of time won't come back around for a while, I have decided to finally enjoy it. Life really is a lot better when you count your blessings.